State Editions

Relief, rehab for victims of acid attacks in Haryana

The Haryana Government has notified a scheme namely “Relief and Rehabilitation of Women and Children Acid Victims” to provide ad hoc relief or medical reimbursement and rehabilitation services to girls, women and boys upto 18 years who become acid attack victims.

Giving details, Women and Child Development Minister, Kavita Jain said that any victim facing acid attack after May 2, 2011 would be eligible under the scheme.

She said that where the acid victim has not been finally cured and all process over, such victim would be considered due to continuing cause of action. The scheme would cover all acid attack victim girls, women and boys upto 18 years residing in Haryana. An application may be filed either by the victim or by heir claiming on her behalf in cases where the victim herself is disabled to make an application, she added.

She said that the acid attack victim of the state would be entitled to receive free of cost 100 per cent medical treatment from amongst any of the government or government approved hospitals.

Severe acid victim would be treated in disabled persons category as certified from the Medical Board of the concerned district. Monthly financial assistance of Rs 8,000 to acid victims who come in the definition of disability under Section 2 (i) of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities Protection of Rights of Full Participation) Act, 1995 would be provided by the Social Justice and Empowerment Department.

Apart from this, the victim of acid attack would be given preference in allotment of fair price shops by the Food and Supply Department, the Minister said.

Referring to the financial assistance to be given under the scheme, she said that a sum of Rs one lakh would be paid to acid victim within 15 days of occurrence of such incident to facilitate immediate medical attention and expenses in this regard.

The acid attack victim of the state would be entitled to receive free of cost 100 per cent medical treatment including medicine, food, bedding and plastic or reconstructive surgery, if any, from amongst any of the government or government approved hospitals. The amount would be reimbursed by the Women and Child Development Department, she said.

Jain said that no medical hospital or speciality, government owned or privately owned would deny specialised or any form of treatment to any victim on any ground, when such victim is brought before or approaches such facility for treatment.

Where such medical facility receives such a victim for treatment it would forthwith inform the District Board or State Board and the police of the same, but would in no manner or on any ground refuse treatment to such victim. For the purpose of treatment, the police report or the FIR would not be relevant precondition, she added.

Jain said that a State Level Committee (SLC) for “Relief and Rehabilitation of Women and Children Acid Victims” has been constituted under the chairmanship of Women and Child Development Minister for considering the claims and awarding relief, rehabilitation and reimbursement.

Director, Women and Child Development Department would be Member Secretary of the committee. The other members included Administrative Secretary, Women and Child Development Department, Administrative Secretary, Health Department, Administrative Secretary, Social Justice and Empowerment Department and Administrative Secretary, Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes Department.The Minister further said that the committee would coordinate and monitor the functions of District Level Committees. It would ensure proper disbursement of the funds allocated under the scheme and any additional amount to be supplemented by the State Government to the District Committees.

The committee would also issue directions to the appropriate authorities under the Act for ensuring proper medical, psychological and legal assistance to the victim. All the medical reimbursement would be approved by the Committee before providing the financial relief, she said. She added District Level Committee namely “Relief and Rehabilitation of Women and Children Acid Victims” has also been constituted under the chairpersonship of Deputy Commissioner. The Committee would have exclusive jurisdiction to deal with the applications received under the scheme in that district.